Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.1340
Posted: Fri Jan 24 02:11:20 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jan-86 08:33:09 EST
Organization: EECS Dept. U.C. San Diego
Lines: 54
Keywords: Amiga, business, marketing


     When the Amiga PC was first introduced  I  wondered  to
what degree such a machine could assault the business market
dominated by the IBM PC/xt/at, the Mac. and  others.   I  am
still wondering.

     It takes time for a computer to establish itself in the
business  market.  IBM  is  very well positioned in the cor-
porate PC market.  And Apple is working harder each  day  to
capture the small business market.

     Most of the managers I talk to (or listen to) are  con-
cerned   only   with  buying  established  PC's  with  major
software/hardware support (read IBM).  Like they say, no one
ever lost there job buying IBM.

     On the other hand, it seems that most of the  corporate
PC  users  are  concerned  mainly  with  having  a good text
display, good graphics, and a fast spread sheet.  And a good
spread sheet on the Amiga will knock there socks off.  Busi-
ness PC users also seem very interested in the multi-tasking
features of the Amiga.  At the top of the wish list for many
of these people is being able to have a spread sheet, a data
base,  and terminal program on the screen and running all at
once.  The Amiga, of course, answers this prayer.

     It seems certain that the Amiga will never displace IBM
in most business markets.  IBM's PC's will always be conser-
vative workhorses.  And with big blue's tremendous marketing
power,  they will no doubt be able to sell any quality PC in
the near future.  But, I feel that the Amiga (and it's  des-
cendents)  will  be  used in business to a degree which will
surprise many people.

     I have talked to several engineers (electrical, device,
etc.) who are very interested in using Amigas as inexpensive
graphic work stations as well as running  stand-alone  stuff
such as SPICE.  They are, of course, waiting for software.

     In summary, I believe that the Amiga  *will*  have  all
the  qualities  of  a fine business machine.  It should have
all the basic business software, as well as some totally new
and  innovative  stuff.   It will have a very difficult time
competing with IBM and Apple  in  the  traditional  business
computer market.  So perhaps CBM is doing the right thing by
marketing Amiga as the PC with  a  "creative  edge"  in  the
hopes of doing a little market creation.


                                -- Roger Bly.

"The most incomprehensible property of the universe is  that
it  is so comprehensible."                                 
                                    - The Big "A"